He was going to kill them. He didn't care that he'd known Syd for most of his life, or that Z was one of his best friends; he was going to kill them, and then bring them back, just so he could kill them again.

His intentions must have shown on his face, because as he made his way down the halls towards Mission Control, lower and higher ranking officers alike gave him a wide berth. The others would be there already. The only reason he wasn't was that he'd been out with RIC doing one last scan of the area, in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, he could find him.

He hadn't, and with his hopes quashed and his panic rising, Sky was on a war path.

As he stepped through the doors of Mission Control, five sets of eyes turned on him. He couldn't help thinking that there should have been one more pair of eyes there, and he knew exactly who was to blame for it.

He made a bee line for Syd and Z, his fists clenched at his sides and his jaw set in a tight line.

Syd saw the look, and having known Sky as long as she had, knew exactly what was coming. "Sky, listen, there was nothing we could—"

"I don't want to hear your excuses!" he shouted, surprising even himself. He'd never lost control like this, but he couldn't help it. It was his boyfriend that was missing; it was his best friend. "Even a D-level cadet knows to never leave a teammate behind. You let them take him! You let them take him, and then you ran!"

"We didn't run, Sky!" Z protested. "I get that you're upset and all, but—"

"No, you don't get it!" Sky snapped abruptly. "He's your teammate!"

Out of the corner of his eye, Sky saw Jack approach. The Red Ranger put a hand on his shoulder, keeping him from stepping any closer to the two girls. Already, his height advantage left him towering ominously over them. That was good. A part of him, the vengeful, angry part, wanted them to be scared. He wanted them to be scared like their teammate was scared, but unlike their teammate, they knew their assailant wouldn't hurt them.

Syd stepped in. "We were outnumbered. Would you have preferred all three of us get caught?"

"Cadet Drew is right," said Cruger firmly. "Tate, your squad mate made a calculated strategic decision in order to protect his fellow Rangers. Nothing good will come of shouting at your comrades for that."

Sky opened his mouth to protest – he didn't know what he was going to say, but something had to be said – but Cruger held up a hand to cut him off.

"I think, perhaps, your energies might be better directed at heading the search. Unless, of course, you are too close to the investigation."

From the looks passed about the room, it seemed everyone knew how low a blow Cruger had just delivered. All the same, Sky had to admit that he had a valid point. If anyone was going to be heading the search for the missing ranger it was going to be him. He had the most experience, the most training, and, most importantly, the most incentive.

Steeling his face, Sky squared his shoulders and saluted his canine commander. "Sir!" he said, and with one last less-than-friendly glance at Syd and Z, he started giving orders.

And while he wasn't sure where to start looking, what was happening to his boyfriend, or who exactly he wanted to take it out on more, there was one thing for certain.

No matter what, he was going to find Bridge Carson.